NASA releases the first full-colour images from the James Webb telescope

NASA has unveiled the first full-colour science images from the James Webb Space Telescope. The day before, US President Joe Biden showed the first image, a deep field of the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723.

The images released show the "Cosmic Cliffs" in the Carina Nebula, the Southern Ring Nebula, the Stephan's Quintet galaxy group and a spectrum of the atmosphere of exoplanet WASP-96 b, in which traces of water were found.

The SMACS 0723 image is the deepest and most detailed infrared view of the Universe to date. It shows galaxies whose light travelled to Earth for more than 13 billion years.

The telescope was launched in December 2021. Scientists expect it has enough fuel for more than 20 years of operation.